Buckle May Same-store Sales Jump 13.4 Percent

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Teen apparel retailer The Buckle Inc. said Thursday its same-store sales rose 13.4 percent in May, beating analyst expectations.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters, on average, expected same-store sales to rise 11.2 percent.

Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, are a key measure of retailer performance because they measure growth at existing stores rather than from newly opened ones.

Total sales for the four-week period ended May 30 rose 19.2 percent to $60.6 million.

So far this year, same-store sales have risen 16.7 percent, and total sales have risen 23.3 percent to $260.2 million from $211.1 million.

The Buckle, based in Kearney, Neb., operates 393 retail stores in 40 states.